Synthesis and biological evaluation of aromatic analogues of conduritol F, L-chiro-inositol, and dihydroconduritol F structurally related to the amaryllidaceae anticancer constituents

Pancratistatin is a potent anticancer natural product, whose clinical evaluation is hampered by the limited natural abundance and the stereochemically complex structure undermining practical chemical preparation. Fifteen aromatic analogues of conduritol F, l-chiro-inositol, and dihydroconduritol F that possess four of the six pancratistatin stereocenters have been synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity. These compounds serve as truncated pancratistatin analogues lacking the lactam ring B, but retaining the crucial C10a-C10b bond with the correct stereochemistry. The lack of activity of these compounds provides further insight into pancratistatin's minimum structural requirements for cytotoxicity, particularly the criticality of the intact phenanthridone skeleton. Significantly, these series provide rare examples of simple aromatic conduritol and inositol analogues and, therefore, this study expands the chemistry and biology of these important classes of compounds.     

The synthesis of active and stable diaminopimelate analogues of the lantibiotic peptide lactocin S

Lantibiotic peptides are potent antimicrobial compounds produced by Gram-positive bacteria. They can be used in food preservation, and some also show potential for clinical applications. Unfortunately, some of these peptides can be susceptible to inactivation by oxidation of the sulfur-containing amino acid lanthionine, limiting their use. Here we describe the synthesis and testing of diaminopimelate analogues of the lantibiotic lactocin S. These analogues were designed to improve the oxidative stability of the peptide by replacing the sulfur in lanthionine with a methylene unit. Lanthionine was systematically replaced with diaminopimelate during solid-phase peptide synthesis to produce several analogues. One analogue, A-DAP lactocin S, was found to retain full biological activity in addition to displaying increased stability. This is the first time a synthetic lanthionine ring analogue of a lantibiotic has retained natural activity levels. This methodology is potentially very promising for use in producing more stable, medically relevant lantibiotics.     

Synthesis, characterization, and antioxidant activity of some ebselen analogues

Simple synthetic routes for several analogues of the anti-inflammatory organoselenium drug, ebselen, are described. The compounds are characterized by (1)H, (13)C, and (77)Se NMR spectroscopy and mass spectral techniques and, in some cases, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like antioxidant activity has been studied by using H(2)O(2), tBuOOH, and Cum-OOH as substrates, and thiophenol (PhSH, 4-Me-C(6)H(4)SH) and glutathione (GSH) as cosubstrates. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed on these systems to understand the effects of various substituents on the (77)Se NMR chemical shifts; these results have been compared with the experimental data. The experimental and theoretical results suggest that the presence of a phenyl substituent on the nitrogen atom is important for the antioxidant activity of ebselen. While ebselen and its analogues are poor catalysts in aromatic thiol assays, these compounds exhibit high GPx activity when GSH is used as the cosubstrate. The poor catalytic activity of ebselen analogues in the presence of aromatic thiols such as PhSH and 4-Me-C(6)H(4)SH can be ascribed to the undesired thiol exchange reaction that takes place at the selenium center due to SeO nonbonding interactions. To understand the effects of different peroxides on the catalytic activities, we have determined the initial rates at various concentrations of GSH and peroxides. These data suggest that the nature of peroxide has little effect on the catalytic efficiencies, although the initial reaction rates observed with hydrogen peroxide were found to be higher than that with tBuOOH and Cum-OOH. In contrast to the effect of peroxides, the nature of thiols appears to have a dramatic effect on the catalytic activity of ebselen and its related derivatives.     

Lignin as a Natural Carrier for the Efficient Delivery of Bioactive Compounds: From Waste to Health

Lignin is a fascinating aromatic biopolymer with high valorization potentiality. Besides its extensive value in the biorefinery context, as a renewable source of aromatics lignin is currently under evaluation for its huge potential in biomedical applications. Besides the specific antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of lignin, that depend on its source and isolation procedure, remarkable progress has been made, over the last five years, in the isolation, functionalization and modification of lignin and lignin-derived compounds to use as carriers for biologically active substances. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of the art in the field of lignin-based carrier systems, highlighting the most important results. Furthermore, the possibilities and constraints related to the physico–chemical properties of the lignin source will be reviewed herein as well as the modifications and processing required to make lignin suitable for the loading and release of active compounds.     

Polycondensation of low-active monomers in mesomorphic-like reaction mixtures and in presence of polymeric matrix

The study results of the synthesis of polyheterocycles based on dianhydrides, obtained by photochemical reaction of aromatic compounds with maleic anhydride, have been presented. In comparison with aromatic analogues the low reactivity of anhydride cycles is characteristic for tricyclodecenetetracarboxylic dianhydrides. This fact made unsuitable the traditional two-stage method to synthesize high-molecular polyheterocycles on the basis of these monomers. There has been estimated a possibility of chain growth of oligomeric polyamic acids (PAMA) in mesomorphic-like state of its solutions in mixed solvents. In this conditions the PAMA polymerization degree changed from 7 up to 60. These peculiarities have given the opportunity to synthesize polyheterocycles in mild conditions. The features of polycondensation of tricyclodecenetetracarboxylic dianhydrides with bis(4-aminophenyl) ether in the presence of poly-4-vinylpyridine, polyacrylic and polymethacrylic acids have been studied. There have been synthesized high-molecular-weight polyimides and polyamidoimides, possessing good physicomechanical and thermal properties.     

Aromatic A-ring analogues of orobanchol, new germination stimulants for seeds of parasitic weeds

Strigolactones are signaling compounds in plants of increasing importance. In this paper the focus is on their activity as germinating agents for seeds of parasitic weeds. The syntheses of aromatic A-ring analogues of the germination stimulant orobanchol have been described. Starting substrate is the ABC unit of the stimulant GR24. Oxidation at the C-4 position gives a 4-oxo derivative which on subsequent reduction produces two C-4 epimeric alcohols, syn and anti in a ratio of 82 : 3. For practical access of the C-4 anti alcohol, the predominant syn epimer is inverted by a Mitsunobu procedure. The anti C-4 alcohol is then coupled with the D-ring in a one-pot two-step process involving a formylation and a reaction with bromobutenolide to give a mixture of the diastereomeric aromatic A-ring analogues of orobanchol. In contrast, the syn C-4 alcohol cannot be coupled directly with the D-ring. Protection of the C-4 syn OH is a prequisite. The best protecting function is the SEM group as deprotection after coupling with the D-ring can then readily be achieved. The structures of these new analogues have been ascertained by X-ray analyses. Both diastereomers of the C-4 syn as well as the C-4 anti orobanchol analogues have been tested as germination agents of seeds of Striga hermonthica and Orobanche ramosa. In addition, the acetates of both epimeric C-4 alcohols have been prepared and tested. Both diastereomers of the 4-oxo derivative have been prepared and bioassayed as well. The bioassays reveal that the diastereomers having the natural relative configuration are most active. The data also suggest that hydrogen bonding is not an important factor in the binding of the stimulant molecules in the receptor.     

宽带隙p区金属氧化物/氢氧化物对苯的光催化降解(英文)

苯具有高毒性和致病性,是空气中常见的一种挥发性有机污染物,对健康和环境危害大.以TiO2为代表的半导体光催化氧化技术是一种理想的环境治理技术,已广泛应用于一般室内挥发性有机物(VOCs)的去除.然而在处理苯等难降解有机污染物时,由于在催化剂表面生成难被降解的聚合物中间产物,往往导致TiO2光催化剂的失活.开发可在常温下使用的降解苯系污染物的高效光催化剂对于推广光催化技术在苯污染治理中的应用具有重大的意义.最近我们研究所开发出一系列宽带隙p区金属氧化物/氢氧化物光催化剂,它们对苯系污染物的光催化降解显示出很好的活性和稳定性,是一类极具应用前景的降解苯系污染物的新型光催化剂.在这篇文章中,我们总结这类宽带隙p区金属氧化物/氢氧化物光催化剂的制备及其光催化降解苯的活性,对其不同于TiO2的光催化机理,及其结构和光催化性能之间的关系进行初步的探讨.     

Antiviral Activities of Halogenated Emodin Derivatives against Human Coronavirus NL63

The current COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the need for the development of new vaccines and drugs to combat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Recently, various drugs have been proposed as potentially effective against COVID-19, such as remdesivir, infliximab and imatinib. Natural plants have been used as an alternative source of drugs for thousands of years, and some of them are effective for the treatment of various viral diseases. Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthracene-9,10-dione) is a biologically active anthraquinone with antiviral activity that is found in various plants. We studied the selectivity of electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions on an emodin core (halogenation, nitration and sulfonation), which resulted in a library of emodin derivatives. The main aim of this work was to carry out an initial evaluation of the potential to improve the activity of emodin against human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) and also to generate a set of initial SAR guidelines. We have prepared emodin derivatives which displayed significant anti-HCoV-NL63 activity. We observed that halogenation of emodin can improve its antiviral activity. The most active compound in this study was the iodinated emodin analogue E_3I, whose anti-HCoV-NL63 activity was comparable to that of remdesivir. Evaluation of the emodin analogues also revealed some unwanted toxicity to Vero cells. Since new synthetic routes are now available that allow modification of the emodin structure, it is reasonable to expect that analogues with significantly improved anti-HCoV-NL63 activity and lowered toxicity may thus be generated.     

Solubility of climbazole and triclocarban in supercritical carbon dioxide: Measurement and correlation

The supercritical technology has been considered as an appropriate alternative for separation of biomaterials from cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical products. The solid solubility of biological compounds is the most important thermodynamic parameter in the supercritical extraction and purification. The equilibrium solubility of two biocides, climbazole, and triclocarban was measured in supercritical carbon dioxide with static method in the pressure range from (10 to 40) MPa and at temperatures equal to (313.2, 323.2, and 333.2) K. The experimental data were correlated by Peng–Robinson equation of state and quasi-chemical nonrandom lattice fluid model.     

Three-component synthesis and anticancer evaluation of polycyclic indenopyridines lead to the discovery of a novel indenoheterocycle with potent apoptosis inducing properties

A multicomponent reaction of indane-1,3-dione, an aldehyde and an amine-containing aromatic compound leading to the formation of indenopyridine-based heterocyclic medicinal scaffolds has been investigated. It was found that the yields significantly improve when oxygen gas is bubbled through the reaction mixture, facilitating the oxidation of the intermediate dihydropyridine-containing compounds to their aromatic counterparts. Investigation of the reaction scope revealed that formaldehyde, as well as various aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes, works well as the aldehyde component. In addition, substituted anilines and diverse aminoheterocycles can be utilized in this process as the amine-containing component. Preliminary biological evaluation of the synthesized library identified a pyrimidine-based polycycle, which rivals the anticancer drug etoposide in its toxicity and apoptosis inducing properties toward a human T-cell leukemia cell line.     

高效液相色谱法测定游泳池水中三氯卡班、三氯生和甲基三氯生的含量

采用高效液相色谱法测定游泳池水中三氯卡班、三氯生和甲基三氯生的含量。样品经HLB固相萃取柱(200mg,6mL)富集,净化,采用PICKERING-C8色谱柱(4.6mm×250 mm,5μm)分离,以甲醇-水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,在检测波长281nm处进行测定。三氯卡班、三氯生和甲基三氯生的质量浓度均在0.025~10mg·L^-1内与其峰面积之间呈线性关系,方法的检出限(3S/N)为0.007 5~0.015 mg·L^-1。按标准加入法进行回收试验,测得加标回收率为91.4%~104%,相对标准偏差(n=6)为2.5%~9.3%。     

Anthocyanins as antimicrobial agents of natural plant origin

Anthocyanins are particularly abundant in different fruits, especially in berries. The beneficial effects of these compounds for human health have been known from at least the 16th century. Despite the great number of papers devoted to the different biological effects exerted by anthocyanins only a limited number of studies is focused on the antimicrobial activity of these compounds. Anthocyanin content of berry fruits varies from 7.5 mg/100 mg fresh fruit in redcurrant (Ribes rubum) up to 460 mg/100 g fresh fruit in chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa). After consumption, anthocyanins are intensively metabolized, mainly in the intestines and liver. Glucorination, methylation and sulfation are the most typical metabolic reactions. Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of plant phenolic compounds against human pathogens has been intensively studied to characterize and develop new healthy food ingredients as well as medical and pharmaceutical products. However, there is very little information available about the antimicrobial activity of the pure anthocyanins. In the last part of this review we present the collection of papers describing the anthocyanin profiles of different fruits (mainly berries) and the antimicrobial properties of the identified compounds. Generally, anthocyanins are active against different microbes, however Gram-positive bacteria usually are more susceptible to the anthocyanin action than Gram-negative ones. Mechanisms underlying anthocyanin activity include both membrane and intracellular interactions of these compounds. Antimicrobial activity of berries and other anthocyanin-containing fruits is likely to be caused by multiple mechanisms and synergies because they contain various compounds including anthocyanins, weak organic acids, phenolic acids, and their mixtures of different chemical forms. Therefore, the antimicrobial effect of chemically complex compounds has to be critically analyzed.     

Biomedical application and hidden toxicity of Zinc oxide nanoparticles

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) represent a novel type of metal oxide nanoparticles enabling a new horizon for biomedical applications spanning from diagnosis to treatment. ZnO NPs are extensively used in commercial products such as sunscreens and daily-care products. Apart from that, ZnO NPs are used in food packaging and ointments and as an antimicrobial and antifungal agent. They are extensively used for many biomedical applications noticeably in pharmaceutics and theranostics. Its exceptional optical, electrical, and physiochemical properties, notably its incredible surface chemistry, make ZnO NPs a reliable option for bioimaging, biosensors, antimicrobial action, and drug and gene delivery. The present review covers findings and developments in ZnO NPs research in relation to its application and toxicity mechanism. A special emphasis has been given to the neurotoxic potential of the ZnO NPs and glial cell toxicity. Various factors contributing to the toxic potential of ZnO NPs and cell signaling pathways concerning its toxicity are also discussed. Available data point toward the risk of uncontrollable use of zinc nanoformulation. With increasing use, ZnO NPs pose a severe threat both to the ecosystem and human beings. In a nutshell, the review outlines the current state of the art of ZnO NPs.     

结构多样的HIV-1整合酶抑制剂:过去、现在和未来

HIV-1整合酶是逆转录病毒复制的必需酶,它催化病毒DNA与宿主染色体DNA的整合,而且在人类细胞中没有类似物,因此成为治疗艾滋病的富有吸引力和合理的靶标.最近十年,一大批HIV-1整合酶抑制剂被鉴定出来,其中一些化合物显示选择性的抑制HIV-1整合酶和阻断病毒复制的活性,而最有影响的两类抑制剂是含邻苯二酚的多羟基芳环化合物和最近报道的芳基β-二酮酸类化合物.全面综述了用于HIV-1整合酶抑制剂研究以发展抗HIV新药的不同种类的化合物,包括苯并咪唑类衍生物、核苷类、多肽、羟基取代的芳环化合物及二酮酸类化合物等,并阐述了这些化合物中对抑制活性重要的结构特征.同时也介绍了HIV-1整合酶的结构、功能以及HIV-1整合酶抑制剂的设计原理和作用机制.     

Single Amino-Acid Based Self-Assembled Biomaterials with Potent Antimicrobial Activity

The design and development of soft biomaterials based on amino acid and short-peptide have gained much attention due to their potent biomedical applications. A slight alteration in the side-chain of single amino acid in a peptide or protein sequence has a huge impact on the structure and function. Phenylalanine is one of the most studied amino acids, which contains an aromatic phenyl group connected through a flexible −CH₂− unit. In this work, we have examined whether flexibility and aromatic functionality of phenylalanine (Phe) are important in gel formation of model gelator Fmoc-Phe-OH or not. To examine this hypothesis, we synthesized Fmoc-derivatives of three analogues unnatural amino acids including cyclohexylalanine, phenylglycine, and homophenylalanine; which are slightly varied from Phe. Interestingly, all these three new analogues formed hydrogels in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 having different gelation efficacy and kinetics. This study suggests that the presence of aromatic side-chain and flexibility are not mandatory for the gelation of this model gelator. Newly synthesized unnatural amino acid derivatives have also exhibited promising antimicrobial activity towards gram-positive bacteria by inhibiting cellular oxygen consumption. We further determined the biocompatibility of these amino acid derivatives by using a hemolysis assay on human blood cells. Overall studies described the development of single amino acid-based new injectable biomaterials with improved antimicrobial activity by the slight alteration in the side-chain of amino acid.     

Chromatographic behavior of epirubicin and its analogues on high-purity silica in hydrophilic interaction chromatography

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography has been applied for the separation of epirubicin and its analogues using high-purity silica column with aqueous-organic mobile phase. Parameters affecting the chromatographic behavior of the solutes such as organic modifier, buffer pH, ionic strength and sample size, have been investigated. Of utmost importance for successful separation of these analogues is the choice of organic modifier, since it impacts both the solvent selectivity and the ionization of silica silanols as well as buffer solution, and consequently the retention behavior of solutes. Acetonitrile was shown to offer superior separation of these analogues to methanol, isopropanol or tetrahydrofuran. Results of the effects of organic modifier, buffer pH and ion strength indicate that the retention mechanism is a mixed-mode of adsorption and ion exchange. In addition, an irreversible adsorption of these compounds was found on silica in the weakly acidic or neutral mobile phases, and the effect of various factors on irreversible adsorption was also preliminarily discussed. More significantly, these basic compounds have exhibited peaks with a slanted front and a sharp tail, a typical overloading peak profile belonging to the behavior of competitive anti-Langmuir isotherm by increasing the sample size at the experimental conditions.     

Insights into Structural Modifications of Valproic Acid and Their Pharmacological Profile

Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-established anticonvulsant drug discovered serendipitously and marketed for the treatment of epilepsy, migraine, bipolar disorder and neuropathic pain. Apart from this, VPA has potential therapeutic applications in other central nervous system (CNS) disorders and in various cancer types. Since the discovery of its anticonvulsant activity, substantial efforts have been made to develop structural analogues and derivatives in an attempt to increase potency and decrease adverse side effects, the most significant being teratogenicity and hepatotoxicity. Most of these compounds have shown reduced toxicity with improved potency. The simple structure of VPA offers a great advantage to its modification. This review briefly discusses the pharmacology and molecular targets of VPA. The article then elaborates on the structural modifications in VPA including amide-derivatives, acid and cyclic analogues, urea derivatives and pro-drugs, and compares their pharmacological profile with that of the parent molecule. The current challenges for the clinical use of these derivatives are also discussed. The review is expected to provide necessary knowledgebase for the further development of VPA-derived compounds.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of δ-Viniferin Analogues and Isosteres

The natural stilbenoid dehydro-δ-viniferin, containing a benzofuran core, has been recently identified as a promising antimicrobial agent. To define the structural elements relevant to its activity, we modified the styryl moiety, appended at C5 of the benzofuran ring. In this paper, we report the construction of stilbenoid-derived 2,3-diaryl-5-substituted benzofurans, which allowed us to prepare a focused collection of dehydro-δ-viniferin analogues. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated against S. aureus ATCC29213. The simplified analogue 5,5′-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzofuran-3,5-diyl)bis(benzene-1,3-diol), obtained in three steps from 4-bromo-2-iodophenol (63% overall yield), emerged as a promising candidate for further investigation (MIC = 4 µg/mL).     

A review of silver nanoparticles in food packaging technologies: Regulation,methods, properties,migration, and future challenges

The development of antimicrobial food packaging is needed for food preservation and quality maintenance. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used as an antimicrobial agent in food packaging technologies. However, the risks associated with their potential migration into foods are a major concern. This paper comprehensively reviews the use of AgNPs in food packaging technologies. The application of AgNPs in food packaging technologies has been regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority. The addition of AgNPs into food packaging can improve their barrier, mechanical, and antibacterial properties, as well as maintain the quality of foods. Migration of AgNPs from food packaging into foods is still a concern as it has implications for human health associated with their toxicity properties. A study on the toxicological properties of AgNPs released from food packaging needs to be carried out intensively to ensure their safety before being widely implemented. Moreover, comprehensive economic evaluation to implement AgNPs in food packaging is needed as such a study is missing in the literature.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of macrocyclic dihydroxystilbenes linked between the para-para positions

A new family of diphenylethanes has been synthesized as conformationally restricted analogues of antimitotic combretastatins. The two phenyl rings are linked between the para-phenolic positions through a 3-oxapentamethylene or hexamethylene chain. The key macrocyclization step was achieved in moderate yields by using an intramolecular McMurry pinacol coupling of linked aromatic dialdehydes, except for the nitro-substituted compounds. The relative stereochemistry of the isomeric pinacols was determined by a combination of spectroscopic, chemical derivatization, and molecular-modeling approaches. The NMR spectra of these compounds (with a polyoxygenated crownophane skeleton) indicate severe conformational restrictions relative to their parent combretastatins; the rotation of the phenyl rings is hampered by interactions of their substituents and the linker and the conformational restrictions imposed by the substituted bridge.